And the H's have it

Pic taken w/ Blackberry- please excuse poor quality

I finally figured out what I wanted to put on top of my hall tree. I was inspired by this post a long time ago, but didn't have a place... until now. I already had two of the H's, painted one, and bought the one on the pedestal at Anthropologie.

Potty Training 101

WARNING: This post contains potty humor. If you find that offensive in anyway, please do not read ;0

Rhett is not yet 19 months old, and I know he is a LONG way from being potty trained. But, guess what? He went poo poo and pee pee in the potty today! YAY! He has been telling us for a couple of months now that he has poo poo or he will say "diaper". So, we have been following his lead and putting him on the potty after he tells us this to show him that is where you do your business. But, every time, he has already done his business. We have also started to put him on the potty when he passes gas, but most of the time it's just that... a little gas. Within the last few weeks, he has started hiding when he goes #2. So, today, he buried his face and hid behind a chair and began grunting really loudly. I knew it was time to go sit on the potty. He agreed, but only after he picked up several toy cars first. I thought that when I took his diaper off I was going to find that he had already gone, but he hadn't! So, he sat down and did his business and while I was praising and cheering him on, he went pee pee, too!

I am so proud of my little man! He got to eat M&M's as his reward! I hope he realized what all the fuss was about!

Valentine's Creation

My birthday is coming up! Anyone that knows me knows how much I love hearts because my birthday is on Valentine's Day! I wonder if I would love them if I weren't born on that day?!?

Well, in honor of the big day, and my birthday, and because, well, I love hearts, I created this masterpiece ;):Please excuse the fuzzy pic- taken w/ a Blackberry

These wreaths are a little smaller than the ones I created for Halloween and Christmas in the round shape. This heart-shaped wreath is $25, and is available for purchase here or by e-mailing me at pinkhearts.polkadots@yahoo.com. Valentine's fabrics can also come in a round-shaped wreath for $40.

I won!

(Well, 4th place, but still, I won something!)

I NEVER win anything!!! Recently, I saw where someone was imploring their readers to go vote for a friend's Christmas tree in a tree decorating contest. I LOVE Christmas and decorating, so I didn't hesitate to go sign up. After signing up, I realized that there was 1 small problem... the company hosting the contest was out of Seattle and all of the prizes were relative to that area. So, I just sent the link along to my mom and SIL, and never thought another thing about it. I don't think I even went and voted on my self because I didn't know what I'd do with the prize had I won. I considered donating the prize (construction services or a g.c. to a home improvement store) to Habitat for Humanity, but then I didn't even know if there was such an organization in the Seattle area. I figured I'd just wait and see.

Today, I received an e-mail stating that I had come in 4th place, and they were sending me a g.c. to Starbucks because the voting was so close, they figured I deserved something! So, it all worked out because I have like 5 Starbucks within a 5 mile radius of my house! Yay!

Out with the old

I LOVE mudrooms! I wish I had one, but I don't.

Really, I wish I had one, so I could put a cute bench and shelf with hooks, or a hall tree in it. I love the ones they have in Pottery Barn's catalog. But, they carry a hefty price tag along with it.

Recently, I was strolling through Hobby Lobby (imagine that) and I came across this hall tree that I really fell in love with. And, though I don't have a mudroom, I did have the perfect place to put this piece. So, for Christmas, I received several gift cards to my favorite store, and this week they also have furniture 30% off! So, I didn't waste any time and went and purchased the hall tree ASAP! I even put it together all by myself! I put it in the entry/formal rooms. I moved an iron table that I previously had sitting in that space. I was never quite happy with the vignettes on that table.

Here is the before:

Some things are a little misplaced-- hopefully it didn't always look that messy!

Here is the after:

I'm still working on something to put on the shelf ledge up top and a cushion!

Notice the cute frame that Shannon got for me at War Eagle a few years ago. I still love that frame and what it says. I put a picture of Rhett's newborn feet in it. It seems very fitting given the quote on it. I stapled jute twine to the back of the frame and hung it from one of the hooks. I think it looks pretty cute there. Thanks again, Shannon!

Four Christmases

Uggggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! For some reason, I have had to type and re-type this post. So, instead of trying again, I am just going to show pics of Christmas with little explanation. Here they are, in no particular order:

My dad and brother
Rhett test driving one of the FOUR motorized vehicles he got.
My other brother, dad and mom.Rhett wearing some new construction gear he got.

Taking his jeep for a spin.

Rhett opening presents at Mawmaw's house

He got a motorcycle! And Luke got a 4-wheeler

Opening the motorcycle (told you they are out of order)

More presents

Checking out his Jeep from Santa

He seemed to like this gift

Santa came!

A snowman cheeseball I made using store-bought cheeseballs, cream cheese, black olives, a baby carrot and a red bell pepper. Wish I had something creative for a hat for him.

Chocolate wreath I copied from here.

We had a white Christmas! It was the first in like 80 years! So cool!

Hope you all had a magical Christmas and got everything you wished for!

Merry Christmas!

From Our Family to Yours!